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MPs and peers urge government to address cuts to NHS specialist nurses

5Dec2006

The All PartyParliamentary Group (APPG) on Epilepsy held a meeting recently on thefuture of epilepsy specialist nurses (ESNs) in the NHS. This followsthe alarming trend of redundancy and reduced working hours that is nowthreatening around 10 per cent of the UK's total workforce.

SpecialistNurses providing services for people with a wide range of otherlong-term neurological conditions are under similar threats.

TheAPPG and the Joint Epilepsy Council (JEC), together with TheParkinson's Disease Parliamentary Network and the Multiple SclerosisSociety, are urging the Government not to let budgetary pressures inthe NHS affect patient care and quality of life for people with theconditions.

BaronessGould of Potternewton, Chair of the APPG on Epilepsy, said: "We arecalling on the government to address this worrying trend which isleading to a decrease in the already insufficient number of ESNs in theUK. It is vital that these posts are retained in order to continue tohelp those with epilepsy manage their condition and live independentlyin the community."

PhilipLee, Chief Executive of the charity Epilepsy Action, said: "It is disappointingthat after investing around £2.5 million in the NHS through pump primefunding for nurse posts, we are currently in the position of having todefend the status quo when ESNs are already in short supply.

"Whilerecognising that local NHS organisations have the responsibility toallocate resources to meet patient needs, the government must not allowlocal health organisations to make short-term decisions which will havesuch a severe long-term effect on the quality of life for people withepilepsy."

Accordingto the JEC, the umbrella organisation for epilepsy charities, the 170ESNs in the UK make a vital contribution to the treatment and care ofpeople with epilepsy which is the most common serious neurologicalcondition in the UK, currently affecting 456,000 people.

TheESN is a crucial source of support and advice to patients withepilepsy, enabling many patients to manage their epilepsy effectivelywhile retaining their independence.